Bedcover-supporting means



April 10, 1951 1.. HINTON BEDCOVER-SUPPORTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 12, 1948 A TTORA/EYJ N m N H L L BEDCOVER SUPPORTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet? Filed March 12, 1948 Patented Apr. 10,

UN I TED STATES PATENT O FF ICE $547,942 BEDCOVER-SUPPORTING VMEAN S Lew-is L. Hinton, Houston, Tex. Application March 12, 1948;,Serial No. 14,452

5 Claims;

My invention relates t9 means, for supporting the bed covers of, a bed vertically or the upper. surface of the mattress, whereby to prevent the weight of the covers from being imposed upon the feet of a person occupying the bed. As is well known, the weight of the bed covers on the feet of a sleeper, especially when sleeping on the back, frequently causes cramp in the feet; Likewise, in the case of injured feet, it is essential that the same be protected from the weight of covers to avoid discomfort to the occupant of the bed;

With the, foregoing in view, an object of my invention is. to provide an improved bed coverupport ng means for abe' A further object is to prcvide an improved bed cover-supporting means which includes novel means for attaching the same to: a mattress, and/or novel means for adjusting the angular relationship of the cover-supporting frame to the mat-tress; and/ornovel-means for locking the attaching means in a .mattress-clamping relation. f Aiurther object of the invention is toprovi-cle an improved bed cover-supporting means which includes a novel pad for the 'frame off the cover support, a novel coverfor the pad, and novel means for detachably connecting the pad and fiQvertothe frame;

j A further object is to provide in a bed coversupporting means; novel mean for supporting the bed covers in vertically-disposed relation to one end of a bed.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of theinvention, com-bination and arrangement of the several parts thereof and willbe readily apparent to those skilled the art upon reference to theattached drawin sin connection with the following specificatioir, wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

" the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary end elevation or a bed showing a bed cover support according to the invention attached thereto;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, bed being shown in horizontal section;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertica section taken substantially on the plane of the 'line- 3-'3 of Figure 2; s

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevation of the supporting frame for the bed covers apart from the rest of thestructure.

In the drawings, wherein like reference-characters have been usedthroughout the several parts of: the

{views to designate like parts,- iiidesignates the footboard' for a bed-and H the mattress thereof; Any suitable bed and/or mattress may be utilized, as will appear hereinafter. The support according to the invention is adapted to be clampedto the mattress H at the foot end thereof" by a pair of laterally-spaced clamps l2; each of which is disposed adjacent the side edges of the mattress; As the clamps l2 are identical, it will suffice to and each clamp comprises a pair of upper and lower opposed clairnp members. The upper clamp'member com-prisesa leg l3 adapted to rest upon theupper surface of the mattress: H and includes a foot i4 extending downwardly over theend edge of the mattress. The lower clamp member comprises a leg l5 underlying the: lower surface of the mattress and an upwardly-db rected foot lfilextending over the end edge of the' mattress and'pivotall'y connected to the foot I 4 in toe-to-toe relation by a posed pivot means 11. By virtue of this con nection, the clamp members are swingable to and from clamping and unclamping positions with relation to themattress H.

i Thelo'wer foot l6 includes (a, rigid upwardlydirected extension. l8 which extends behind the.

foot M of the upper clamp member, whereby to limitrelative "unclamping movementof the clamp members. Thezleg |:3.of eachzupperclampamem. ber includes a vertically-disposed quadrant; l9. The quadrant is has the periphery thereof formed to piovideseries of major latch teeth 20 and minor latchteeth M1. The upper end of the extension l8 of the lower ,foot It has pivotally secured thereto in any suitable manner a latch dog 22, the free end of which is selectively engageable with c the minor latch teeth 21,, whereby to lock the upper and lower legs l3 and I5 in clamping engagement with the mattress ,Ll. Each quadrant I19 is formed toprcvide an: axially-disposed aperture therethrough in which is journaled the stub shaft 23,.Figure 4, of acover-supporting frame 24. The frame 2 1 includes. end frame members 25 which mount vertically-spaced ears- 26, which in turn are providedwith aligned apertures .slidably receiving the latch, dog 21. The 'latchdog Z -(is vertically movablein the ears 26 andis provided with alaterally-directedlower treesiend portion 28 which, is selectively seatable between adjacent major teeth 20 to lock the trame in angularly adjusted relation to the upper clamp members [3 andfior to the mattres ,2. The frame 24 likewise includes a plurality ,of upwardly-directed frame-providing members 29 and the frame as a, whole is, preferably covered with asrid 0i wisesereemng orthelikesn.

describe but a single one of them,

horizontally-dis- The upper ends of the frame-providing members 25 and 29 are longitudinally directed toward the head of the bed, as at 3|, Figure 3, whereby to provide a canopy. The forward edges of the forwardly-directed ends of the frame-providing members 25 and 29 are preferably connected by any suitable frame members, not shown, which are in turn covered with a layer or sheath of sponge rubber, or the like, 32. Such sheath of sponge rubber obviously protects the toes of the occupant of the bed from injury.

To exclude drafts from the bed, I prefer to utilize a pad 33 of sponge rubber, over the forward surface of the frame, Figure 3, which pad is coextensive with the frame, whereby to substantially exclude all air from passage through the grid 30. The pad 33 is covered with a slip cover 34 provided at its upper edge abutting the 7 grid 30 with suitable tie strings 35, whereby the cover and pad may be suitably secured to the frame. The cover 34 is provided with an extension flap 33 which overlies not only the canopy of the upper edge of the frame, but also extends downwardly to completely enclose the frame. The lower free edge 31 of the extension of the slip cover terminates in the region of the lower edge of the frame and is secured thereto by suitable means, such as the tie strings 39. Thus, the slip cover 34, together with its extension, not only provides a sanitary cover for the frame and the pad therefor, but also may be, and preferably is, made in fabric of distinctive appearance, whereby the cover presents an attractive appearance in use, or when not in use, but disposed on or adjacent the bed.

As is readily apparent from Figure 3, the bedcover-supporting means according to the invention permits any suitable bedcovers, diagramatically illustrated at 40 in Figure 3, to be utilized with the device in the normal manner. The sole exception is that the lower ends of the covers 40 are extended over the frame of the device and are thereafter tucked into the space below the mattress in the usual manner. At the same time, the dual series of major and minor teeth on the quadrants l9 provide a relatively simple means for accommodating the device to mattresses of varying thicknesses and also to permit the support of the frame in various angular-relations to the mattress.

Thus, while I have shown and described what is now thought to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described hereinabove, except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In a bedcover-supporting means, including a bedcover-supporting frame, the improvement comprising a pair of laterally-spaced clamps each adapted to clamp a mattress therebetween adjacent the side edges thereof, each clamp being U-shaped and comprising a pair of L-shaped upper and lower clamp members, each comprising a leg and a foot, horizontally-disposed pivot means pivotally connecting said feet together in toe-to-toe relation, a rigid extension of the lower foot extending upwardly behind the upper foot to limit pivotal movement of said members in an unclamping direction, a quadrant carried by the leg of said upper member and extending upwardly thereof, said quadrant including peripheral series of major and minor latch teeth, a,

latch dogcarried -bysaid extension and-engage able with said minor latch teeth to lock said clamp members in clamping relation to a mattress, means pivotally connecting said frame to each quadrant, and latches carried by said frame and engageable with said major latch teeth to lock said frame in a selected angularly-disposed relation to said mattress.

2. In a bedcover-supporting means, including a bedcover-supporting frame, the improvement comprising a pair of laterally-spaced clamps each adapted to clamp a mattress therebetween adjacent the side edges thereof, each clamp being U-shaped and comprising a pair of L- shaped upper and lower clamp members, each comprising a leg and a foot, horizontally-disposed pivot means pivotally connecting said feet together in toe-to-toe relation, a rigid extension of the lower foot extending upwardly behind the upper foot to limit pivotal movement of said members in an unclamping direction, a quadrant carried by the leg of said upper member and extending upwardly thereof, said quadrant including peripheral series of major and minor latch teeth, alatch dog carried by said extension and engageable with said minor latch teeth to lock said clamp members in clamping relation to a mattress, means pivotally connecting said frame to each quadrant, latches carried by said frame and engageable with said major latch teeth to lock said frame in a selected angularly-disposed relation to said mattress, a pad for said frame, a combined cover for said pad and frame, and means detachably securing said pad and cover to said frame.

3. In a bedcover-supporting means, including a bedcover-supporting frame, the improvement comprising a pair of laterally-spaced clamps each adapted to clamp a mattress therebetween adjacent theside edges thereof, each clamp in cluding opposed upper and lower clamp members, means pivotally connecting said members for clamping and unclamping movement, a limit stop carried by said lower member and engage able with a portion of the upper clamp member to limit unclamping movement thereof, a quad rant carried by said upper clamp member and extending upwardly thereof, said quadrant in-L. cluding peripheral series of major and minor latch teeth, a latch dog carried by said limit stop and engageable with said minor latch teeth to lock said clamp members in clamping relation to a mattress, means pivotally connecting said frame toeach quadrant, and latches carried by said frame and engageable with said major latch teeth to lock said frame in a selected angularlydisposed relation to said mattress.

4. In a bedcover-supporting means, including a bedcover-supporting frame, the improvement comprising a pair of laterally-spaced clamps each adapted to clamp a mattress therebetween adj a: cent the side edges thereof, each clamp including opposed upper and lowerclamp members, means pivotally connecting said members for clamping and unclamping movement, a quadrant carried by said upper clamp member, peripheral teeth on said quadrant, means pivotally connecting said frame to each quadrant, and separate latches carried bysaid frame and lower clamp member, said latches both being engageable with teeth of said quadrant whereby respectively to lock said frame in angularly-adjusted relation to said upper clamp member and to lock said upper and lower clamp members in clamping relation to a mattress.

5. In a bedcover-supporting means including a bedcover-supporting frame, the improvement tolock said upper and. lower clamp members in comprising a pair of laterally-spaced clamps each clamping relation to a mattress.

adapted to clamp a mattress therebetween ad- LEWIS L. I jacent the side" edges thereof, each clamp including opposed upper and lower clamp mem- 5 REFERENCES CITED berg means pivotally connecting said members The following references are of record in the for clamping and unclamping movement, lockfil of this patent;

ing means carried by each of said upper clamp members, means pivotally connecting eachlock- UNITED STATES PATENTS ing means to said frame, and respective latch 10 Number Name Dat elements carried by said frame and lower clamp 2,021,325 c e man 1 members, said latch elements being engageable 55 Peevey Aug. 6, 1940 with portions of the locking means whereby re- 2,266,505 McCormick Dec. 16, 1941 spectively to lock said frame in angularly-a'd- 99 Wolfe June 11, 1946 justed relation to said upper clamp member and 15 

